Permutation-lock



'(ModeL) M.- LYNCH & W. F. HARRISON.

PERMUTATION LOOK.

Patented Mar 16, 1886;

7kg Attorney a z a ,1 W/ I A M m... =5. E55. J Z

v WITNESSES 1 cc W N. PETERS. PhowLimn m her. Washington. D. C,

I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PERMUTATlON-LOCK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No,

338,234, dated March 16,1886

Application filed July 1, 1885. Serial No. 170,336. (Modeh) To all whom it may concern:

' Be it known that we, MICHAEL LYNCH and WILLIAM F. HARRISON, both residents of Florence, in the county of Lauderdale and Stateof Alabama, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Permutation- Locks; and we do hereby declare that the following is afull, clear, and exact description of the invention,which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, and in which Figure l is a perspective View of our improved permutationpadlock. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the same. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section. Fig. 4 is a side View of a link provided with the locking mechanism. Fig. 5 is a similar view of two bars provided with the locking mechanism, the said bars being adapted to be applied to any article of furniture or package requiring a lock. Fig. 6 is a horizontal sectional view on the line 00 so of Fig. 5, and Fig. 7 is an enlarged view of one of the washers or tumblers.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Our invention has relation to that class of permutation-locks in which a number of washers having each a registering notch turn upon a post and engage with their edges a notched bar, which may be withdrawn when all the notches in the washers are brought to register; and it consists in the improved construction and combination of parts, as will be hereinafter more particularly described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, the letter A indicates the lock-casing, which is preferably cylindrical or oblong and provided with a solid bottom, B, and an insertible top, 0, having two apertures, D D, for the reception of the upper ends of two'posts, E E, which project from the bottom of the casing. The sides of the casing are formed with two vertical slots, F F, through which the outer edges of the washers G project, the said washers turning upon the upright posts. The edges of these slots are beveled or cut away at their inner sides, as shown at E, Fig. 3, for the purpose of allowing the portions of the washers which project through the casing to be flush with the outer surface of the casing, the edges of the washers turning close against the inner sides of the edges of the slots, preventing dirt or dust from entering into the lock-casing.

The facing sides of the upright posts have longitudinal grooves or recesses I, in which the flat shanks J of the hasp or bail of the lock slide, the said shanks sliding with their outwardlyfacing portions in the recesses, while their inwardly-facing portions are provided with a number of notches, K, and slide in registering notches L in the inner edges of the washers. The washers or tumblers M are smooth upon one side and have an annular recess upon the other, and are so arranged on the shank of the hasp that the smooth faces of two tumblers are placed together, thus making their thin portions come together, which thin portions exactly fit one of the notches in the shank. This arrangement also makes two of the annular recesses come together, into which recess one of the projections on the shank fits. By making the recesses as deep as half of the thickness of the tumbler and having the recesses facing each other, as shown, one notch in the shank will do for two tumblers, and the projection on the shank can be made equal to the thickness of the edge of the tumbler, and will thus make a stronger lock than if a notch were cut for every tumbler, and especially if all the tumblers were in place except one and it had to bear the pressure brought to bear to force the lock. The outer edges of the washers have letters or numbers inscribed upon them, one number ofeach washer being opposite to the notch, and it will thus be seen that by bringing all these numbers or letters to register with each other in avertical line all the notches in the washers will register with each other and with the recess in the post, when the shank of the hasp may be withdrawn or inserted, as the case may be.

In the modification shown in Fig. 4 a link is shown having a hinge, O, at one side, and having the ends of the hinged portions formed, respectively, into the recessed post and the notched shank, the washers turning upon the said post and shank in the same manner as in the padlock, and being confined upon the post by means of two rigid washers or shoulders, P P, at the inner and outer end of the post.

By bringing the numbers or letters of the combination to register, and thus bringing the notches in the washers to register with each other and with the recess in the post, the

"be secured to the side and lid of a trunk, to the side of a case and to a drawer, or to any other two articles or bodies which it is desired to lock together. It will be seen that by recessing the post for the reception of the notched shank it is possible to employ this mechanism for all the several purposes hereinbefore mentioned, and at the same time in the padlock the casing will not be weakened by the cutting of longitudinal grooves or recesses for the shanks of the hasp, which will be near to the middle of the casing, and thus be protected from injury. It will also be seen that if the lock-casing is broken accidentally or for the purpose of opening the lock, the washers upon the posts will remain in place and prevent the removal of the hasp until the notches in the washers have all been brought to register, or until the hasp has been broken, thus rendering the lock very safe, it being almost impossible to remove the look without entirely destroying the lock, inasmuch as it continues to perform its function even after the casing has been destroyed.

Having thus described our invention, we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States 1. In a permutation-loek, the combination of a post having a longitudinal recess in one side, a number of washers turning upon the said post, formed each with a notch in its inner edge, and with an annular recess around its inner edge, each pair of washers having their flat sides bearing against each other, and a bar or shank having a number of notches in its outer edge for the reception of the inner edges of the washers, the edges of one pair fitting in one notch, the said shank sliding with its inner portion in the longitudinal recess in the post and with its outer notched portion in the registering notches in the inner edges of the washers, as and for the purpose shown and set forth.

2. In a permutation-lock, the combination of a casing having longitudinal slots in its sides beveled upon the inner sides of the side edges, and having upright posts projectingfrom its bottom, the said posts having longitudinal grooves or recesses in their facing sides, a top having perforations for the reception of the upper ends of the posts and fitting in the casing, washers turning upon the posts and formed each with a notch in its inner edge, and with an annular recess in one side around the inner edge, each pair of washers bearing with their flat sides against each other, the outer edges of the washers projecting out through the slots in the casing and bearing tightly against the beveled edges of the same, and a hasp having its shanks sliding with their outwardly-facing portions in the longitudinal recesses in the posts and having their inwardly-facing portions notched, each notch receiving the edges of two washers, the said inwardlyfacing notched portions sliding in the registering notches of the washers, as and for the purpose shown and set forth.

In testimony that we claim the foregoing as our own we have hereunto afiixed our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

MICHAEL LYNCH. XVILLIAM F. HARRISON. \Vi tn esses:

J. W. DAvIs, H. P. DAVIS. 

